Just what this song is all about
What’s probably got you baffled more
Is what this thing here is for
It’s nothing
It’s something I learned over in England
¬Bob Dylan
7/6/10
Breakfast. School. Today in International Comparative Media Law we had a guest speaker from MLDI (Media Law Defence Initiative). MLDI is a non-governmental charity that provides legal assistance to media outlets, finances and runs legal training and mentoring programs in countries where the capacity to challenge oppressive media laws is diminished.
After class the program organized a field trip to the Royal Courts of Justice for a tour which was led by a former bailiff and chock full of lame inside jokes. But overall a fun experience. I learned about the difference between cases brought to the Queen's Bench and cases brought to the court of Exchequer. Both of which I had read cases from before at school but never knew their significance. When we went into the actual courtroom it was as Victorian as can be. A holding cell for the criminal (in plain view), a balcony for the queen to come watch, uncomfortable and stiff wooden benches and books everywhere, some of which looked hundreds of years old. The bailiff said that sometimes a judge will ask to have a book pulled off the shelf so a judge can reference a case. I also passed the bar, the physical barrier separating official and public spaces within the courtroom. In the Anglo-American legal tradition in order to "pass the bar" you had to be an official and pass the "bar" exam. Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed inside.
Later I pre-game and get ready to watch the Uruguay-Holland game...
Tough loss but the tournament must go on.
Bus Stop
Courthouse
Emblem
Entrance
Emblem
Entrance
The room our tour spent most of the time inside.
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